Sunday, August 29, 2004
War stories
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A University of Southern Indiana faculty member wants to hear your war stories. Dr. Leigh Anne Howard, associate professor of communication studies, is listening to veterans, volunteers, and civilian workers in war-related industries tell about their wartime service. Her involvement is part of the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress through its American Folklife Center. The purpose of the oral history project is to document the contributions of veterans, volunteers, and civilian workers so their stories will not be lost. The program focuses on World War I and II and the Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf wars. More than 1,700 veterans die every day. Recently, Howard taped the personal recollections of a number of residents at New Harmonie Healthcare Center in New Harmony, Indiana. Brothers Charley and Harry Campbell told her about their service during World War II. Charley, a master sergeant, was stationed in Scotland, England, and Germany with the Air Corps. Harry, a staff sergeant in a field artillery unit, served in Cherbourg, France, and was decorated with a bronze star. In future interviews, Howard hopes to include more stories from women. Immediate plans include recording the stories of female workers at the Evansville plant that built the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane and at a former parachute factory in Madisonville, Kentucky. She also will interview several nurses who served during World War II. Another group whose stories Howard wants to document are the “war mothers,” women who organized to send Bibles and packages to American servicemen to boost their morale and show support. Howard is particularly interested in the stories of women during World War II because she thinks they may be shortchanged in the national project. She said, “A lot of women from that era often don’t think of themselves as having made an important contribution.” Less than five percent of the approximately 15,000 stories collected nationally have come from women. Howard’s involvement in the collection of oral history is a collaborative project with students. Like Howard, several students in an advanced seminar have conducted and transcribed 60- to 90-minute interviews with veterans, volunteers, or civilian workers. “Working side by side, we are creating this valuable set of materials,” Howard said. The project combines undergraduate research and service learning. “Students and I have the opportunity to serve our community and conduct primary research,” she said. USI is an official partner in the national Veterans History Project. Larry Ordner, regional director for the southwestern Indiana office of Senator Richard Lugar, has visited USI to talk with Howard and her students about the initiative. Lugar has promoted Indiana participation in the effort. Howard wants to know of other individuals interested in telling their war-related stories. Contact her at 812/464-1741 or lahoward@usi.edu. |
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